I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8881 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to permanently authorize the performance of Department of Veterans Affairs disability examinations by nonDepartment physicians pursuant to contracts, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 28, 2024 

Mr. CISCOMANI (for himself, Ms. PEREZ, Mr. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida, 

Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina, and Mr. CARL) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to permanently authorize the performance of Department of Veterans Affairs disability examinations by non-Department physicians pursuant to contracts, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural Veterans’ Im5 proved Access to Benefits Act of 2024’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR CONTRACT PHYSI2 CIANS TO PERFORM DEPARTMENT OF VET3 ERANS AFFAIRS DISABILITY EXAMINATIONS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 51 of title 

5 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after sec6 tion 5103A the following new section: 

7 ‘‘§ 5103B. Performance of disability examinations by 

8 contract physicians 

9 ‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—(1) A medical examination con10 ducted under section 5103A(d) of this title that is carried 

11 out through the Under Secretary for Benefits may be 

12 made by a person who is not an employee of the Depart13 ment in accordance with this section. 

14 ‘‘(2) Any examination authorized under paragraph 

15 (1) shall be performed pursuant to a contract entered into 

16 between the Under Secretary for Benefits and that person. 

17 ‘‘(b) LICENSURE OF CONTRACT HEALTH CARE PRO18 FESSIONALS.—(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law 

19 regarding the licensure of health care professionals, a 

20 health care professional described in paragraph (2) may 

21 conduct an examination pursuant to a contract entered 

22 into under subsection (a) at any location in any State so 

23 long as the examination is within the scope of the author24 ized duties under such contract. 

25 ‘‘(2) A health care professional described in this para26 graph is a person who is eligible for appointment to a posiVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:23 Aug 09, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8881.IH H8881

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1 tion in the Veterans Health Administration covered by sec2 tion 7402(b) of this title, who— 

3 ‘‘(A) has a current unrestricted license to prac4 tice the health care profession of the health care 

5 professional; 

6 ‘‘(B) is not barred from practicing such health 

7 care profession in any State; and 

8 ‘‘(C) is performing authorized duties for the 

9 Department pursuant to a contract entered into 

10 under subsection (a). 

11 ‘‘(c) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—Expenses of carrying out 

12 this section, including payments for examination travel 

13 and incidental expenses under the terms and conditions 

14 set forth by section 111 of this title, shall be reimbursed 

15 to the accounts available for the general operating ex16 penses of the Veterans Benefits Administration and infor17 mation technology systems from amounts available to the 

18 Secretary for payment of compensation and pensions. 

19 ‘‘(d) MECHANISM FOR TRANSMITTAL OF EVIDENCE

20 INTRODUCED BY APPLICATIONS DURING EXAMINA21 TIONS.—The Secretary shall establish a mechanism 

22 whereby a health care professional authorized to provide 

23 an examination under subsection (a) for an applicant for 

24 a benefit described in paragraph (1) of such subsection 


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1 can transmit to the Secretary evidence introduced by the 

2 applicant during such examination.’’. 

3 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

4 after the beginning of chapter 51 of such title is amended 

5 by inserting after the item relating to section 5103A the 

6 following new item: 

‘‘5103B. Performance of disability examinations by contract physicians.’’. 

7 (c) TERMINATION OF PILOT PROGRAM.—The pilot 

8 program under section 504(a) of the Veterans’ Benefits 

9 Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–275; 38 

10 U.S.C. 5101 note) is hereby terminated. 

11 (d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than three 

12 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec13 retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a re14 port on the effect of the use of the authority provided by 

15 section 5103B of such title, as added by subsection (a), 

16 on the cost, timeliness, and thoroughness of medical dis17 ability examinations. 

Æ 


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